Disclaimer: Characters and concepts from "Tenchi Muyo!" are Copyright AIC, Pioneer LDC, and Funimation. This work is a parody and not to be used for any commercial purposes.
Although Ayeka was elated, Ryoko was experiencing an emotion new to her. In her long career, she had known fear, anguish, and despair, but never before had she felt deep depression. She had been beaten, by the person she least wanted to lose to, at just about the last thing she would have believed. And it hadn't been luck or temporary weakness. It was certain that any rematch would end the same way.
Finding out that Sasami would eventually have both Tsunami's powers and beauty had been disturbing, but this was the equivalent of a round-house punch. Before, Ryoko had always viewed Ayeka as a maddening delay, but not a genuine threat. The violet-haired princess, in Ryoko's eyes, was pretty in the way a porcelain doll might be, but no match for Ryoko in grown-up womanly allure. But now, Ayeka was not merely her equal but her superior in a vital area. More, Tenchi had already learned of Ayeka's expertise.
But even though her current mood was new to her, Ryoko already had a fair idea of what to do about it. Get her stash of saké, get into the onsen, and get seriously drunk. It did not improve her mood one bit to realize that it was thanks to Ayeka's conscience that she still had a saké stash. She thrust the unwelcome thought out of her mind, phased into her room, and gathered up three bottles. She made sure that none of them were really high-quality, and all of them were large. She gathered together a towel and soap, placed them in her wooden basin for rinsing water, and teleported directly to the floating bath.
Usually, the routine of scrubbing down before entering the pool of hot water was an annoying delay. If Ryoko had her way she would simply phase out of her clothes and jump right in. But she had found that this displeased everybody, not just Ayeka, and while it was bad enough that Mihoshi and Sasami would look at her unhappily, Washu would brain her with one of the large mallets she kept handy in subspace. Today, however, Ryoko found the routine oddly comforting. After all, when the universe has been turned upside down, you have nowhere urgent to go.
But there was something of a disadvantage to Ryoko taking her time. As she was getting a lather of soap, Mihoshi walked in. It was the blonde's usual bad timing: if Ryoko teleported out at that point, she would have to abandon her saké bottles. Of course, now she would have to share some of it with Mihoshi, or the GP detective would make disappointed puppy-dog eyes at her. But Ryoko couldn't bring herself to leave it all.
"Hi, Ryoko!" Mihoshi called cheerily, completely oblivious to the cyan-haired woman's foul mood. "Can I help you scrub your back?"
"Sure, why not." Ryoko couldn't immediately think of a good reason to refuse.
Whatever deficiencies Mihoshi might have in other areas, she could be remarkably efficient at tasks that didn't involve breakable objects. In just a few moments she had dipped a washcloth in warm water, put on some soap, and was washing the hard-to-reach spots with a practiced hand. Ryoko had to admit it was a convenience.
"My, your back muscles are tight today." Mihoshi remarked. "Did you have another shouting match with Ayeka?"
"No, a different kind of match." Ryoko said, and then realized this wasn't a subject she wanted Mihoshi to pursue. "I'd rather not say what kind, though."
"Oh, okay." Mihoshi said, losing none of her cheer. "My turn, now. Could you make sure to clean between my shoulder blades? I think I squashed a mushroom when I rolled off the patio."
Ryoko scrubbed the requested place, and found it was indeed a little sticky. Not wanting to let Mihoshi do a better job than herself, she industriously washed until every trace was gone, then continued to the rest of Mihoshi's back. The two women rinsed off, Ryoko in silence, and Mihoshi humming softly. The thought crossed Ryoko's mind that she herself would have been itching with curiosity about what had happened with Ayeka, but the GP detective seemed quite content not to investigate.
And it was Ryoko who asked the next question. Without bothering to wrap herself, Mihoshi slid into the water. "No towel today, Mihoshi?" Ryoko inquired, surprised out of the silence she had meant to preserve.
"No, I usually wear a towel when Ayeka or Sasami are around." Mihoshi replied. "But this way, I don't have to worry about losing it. Can I have some saké, please?"
"Coming up." Ryoko unsealed the first bottle, and poured a healthy measure into the saucer that Mihoshi was holding. She poured an even more generous amount into her own cup, set the bottle down, and drained half of the cup at one go. "Ahh," she smacked her lips, "I needed that."
Mihoshi lowered her saucer after having imbibed as well. "Ryoko . . . if you don't mind my asking . . ."
So she's curious after all, thought Ryoko.
"How do you enjoy saké when you have so little sense of taste?" Mihoshi finished.
"Oh." Ryoko sat up, caught off guard. "Well, actually, my body can sense the effect of various chemicals. The energy content of sugars and fat, for instance. Saké turns out to be the best form of alcohol for me. And, of course, it's fun getting plastered."
"So, it's kind of like having a sixth sense, except you don't have the fifth sense of taste, so you have an extra fifth sense?" Mihoshi concluded.
"Uhh . . . yeah, kind of like that." Ryoko occasionally found Mihoshi's logic a little hard to follow, especially when the saké was kicking in. "So, about wearing a towel. Don't you resent Ayeka for scolding you when you don't want to?"
"Oh, no, she doesn't scold." Mihoshi shook her head. "She just offers me a towel so politely that it's hard to refuse. And I can't blame her for being protective around Sasami, after all."
Ryoko thought for a few moments. It was true that Ayeka had never criticized her for bathing nude when there were only adult women around. "Hmm. Suppose I told you that Ayeka has, shall we say, a naughty side as well?"
"Oh, you mean about Juraian sex techniques?"
"You knew!" Ryoko nearly spilled her saké.
"Sure. Lady Funaho told us about it. And my Grandfather confirmed it when I wrote to him. He's been learning everything possible about the royal houses of Jurai." Mihoshi's expression turned worried. "I hope that doesn't mean he's planning on having a war with Jurai. It would be just like Grandpa." She finished in the same tone she might have used about the refusal to return a neighbor's lawnmower.
Between the saké and Mihoshi's conversation, Ryoko felt her head begin to spin. She tried to focus on the original subject. "But didn't you find that part about Ayeka hard to believe? She certainly doesn't look like an expert in the subject."
"Well, you can never tell by just looking at someone." Mihoshi said reasonably. "Take me, for instance. Hardly anybody believes at first that I was at the top of my class in marksmanship."
There, Ryoko realized, was a sound point. Mihoshi might be a tad light on brainpower, but she was definitely not someone you wanted to see at the far end of a blaster pointed in your direction. Ryoko thought back to when Mihoshi, Ayeka, and Tenchi were fighting their way onto Dr. Clay's ship. Mihoshi had shot her way through a swarm of Dr. Clay's guard-robots in a way that would have done Annie Oakley proud.
"Of course," Mihoshi continued, "it took a lot of work. The first few times I practiced, some shots did go kind of off target." Ryoko suddenly had visions of target ranges in ruins and instructors ducking for their lives. In spite of herself, she smiled. "But Grandfather assigned the best coaches in the Academy, and I started doing really well."
"It's nice to be able to get the best teachers." Ryoko commented. "I suppose it comes with being a Kuramitsu."
"Oh, yes, that's why Grandfather knew I had the potential." Mihoshi sounded completely oblivious to the idea of favoritism.
Ryoko realized that Ayeka had probably received the same advantages. House Masaki could pull in the best instructors on Jurai, and the best on Jurai were probably the best in the galaxy. Now it made sense. Ryoko had forgotten that Ayeka had stayed on Jurai for five years after her raid and Yosho's departure. Apparently, those five years hadn't been wasted. And there was the fact that Ryoko's body had atrophied over the nearly seven centuries that had been only an instant for the princess.
Ryoko frowned for a moment at that thought. In several ways, she was still slowly recovering from her confinement in the cave, and even more from what Kagato had done to her before that. She didn't bother Tenchi about the sword and its two gems any more, because Washu had determined that her body wasn't ready for the additional power yet. In fact, it hadn't been properly ready when Kagato had placed all three gems into her, those thousands of years ago. Washu's words about her 'erotic warfare' abilities came back to her. She hadn't believed it, because she hadn't wanted to believe it. Now, it was undeniable. But--it didn't have to stay that way. Ryoko's face took on a determined expression. Like Mihoshi, she had the potential. What she needed was training.
But training from whom? Ryoko grimaced as she realized it had to be from Ayeka. Obviously it couldn't be Sasami. Whatever Mihoshi might know about the subject, communicating it clearly was going to be a problem. And while Washu might have the technical knowledge, the idea of being taught erotic skills by someone in a twelve-year-old body, who happened to be her mother, was beyond weird. More, given her confinement by Kagato, the red-haired scientist would be even rustier than Ryoko herself.
Ah. That's an excellent point. Came a voice in the back of her mind.
Damn that link, thought Ryoko for the eight hundred and twenty-fourth time.
------
There was unhappiness elsewhere in the house as well.
"You look a little depressed, son." Nobuyuki commented.
"I guess I am." Tenchi admitted. "I was really hoping, after Ryoko returned, that things would calm down around here. But then Ayeka had to try to get even, and there's just as much fighting as ever. Ayeka is supposed to be the responsible one -- couldn't she just let it go?"
Nobuyuki stared at a distant point for a moment, then focused back on his son. "I guess now is a good time for a little confession I've been meaning to make to you."
"Confession?" Tenchi looked at his father.
"You see, I knew about Ryoko all along." Nobuyuki began. "Katsuhito told me when I got engaged to your mother. He said it was only fair that I should know what I was getting into when I became part of the Masaki family. That is, House Masaki of Jurai." Nobuyuki paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. "I know what's happened since you opened Ryoko's cave has been a shock to you, and maybe it would have been better if you'd had some warning. But your grandfather said you should have a few years of quiet after your mother died, without having to worry about possible mass devastation in the future. I admit I was caught off guard when things finally started happening. In fact, I didn't recognize Ryoko at first. And not even Katsuhito expected everyone including Washu and Mihoshi to move in with us. But we did know your life was going to get a lot more complicated."
"So it's always going to be this way?" Tenchi asked.
"Not always. Do you remember, you once asked Ryoko if she had any conscience? As it turns out, hers was forcibly removed. Essentially, she's growing a new one, and it's going remarkably fast when you think how long she was under Kagato's domination. You have a great deal to do with that, I'm very proud to say." Nobuyuki put his arm on Tenchi's shoulder. "But Ayeka is doing her part too. Ryoko needs an opponent who won't back down, someone she can respect even while struggling with her."
"But after all, dad," Tenchi was still unhappy, "what if Ryoko had decided to do something to you?"
"Washu wouldn't have let it get that far." Nobuyuki seemed unperturbed at the thought of having someone who could level buildings, with either energy beams or bare hands, after his hide.
"You're actually pleased at the idea of you and Ryoko together, aren't you?" Tenchi asked.
Nobuyuki gave a partly embarrassed grin. "Well, it's nice to be thought of as still in the game, if you know what I mean."
Tenchi smiled in spite of himself. "But tell me -- doesn't it bother you, knowing any day what might erupt? Never knowing if the house is going to be there when you get home from work?"
"I'm pretty proud of the house, but I'm even prouder of what's inside it. I know it looks like Ryoko and Ayeka are always fighting, but when you think about it, they haven't blown up any schools or demolished any bridges lately. And I have a feeling some good actually will come from this latest quarrel."
"Just a feeling?"
"Based on experience." There was confidence in Nobuyuki's voice. "I've had the advantage of a number of talks with your grandfather. And you'd be surprised how intense rivalries can get in an architectural firm."
------
Ayeka came up the stairs to her room in a much different way than she had two hours before. She was again surprisingly disheveled for a princess. This time, however, her clothes were unusually plain, and they were stained with sweat and dust instead of smoke and soot marks. More, her step was leaden, slower but heavier than her usual pace.
Ryoko looked over her rival from the spot next to the door where she had been waiting patiently. Since she was about to ask Ayeka for a favor, she decided it was best not to comment on the princess' appearance. She couldn't quite bring herself to bow, but she spoke in the most polite voice she could manage. "Good afternoon, Ayeka."
Ayeka halted, and gave Ryoko a wary look. "Good afternoon, Miss Ryoko."
"Ayeka, I need you to train me." Ryoko said directly. There was no need to say in what area she was talking about.
"Miss Ryoko, I would have to be crazy. For at least two reasons." Ayeka turned to go into her room.
"And those are?" Ryoko asked before Ayeka could take a step.
"The first I believe you know already." Ayeka replied. "The second I prefer not to discuss."
"I could give you some training in return." Ryoko suggested. "How to fire a beam while flying, for instance."
"Additional training in combat," Ayeka's face showed weariness, "is not appealing to me at this point." Ryoko realized that Katsuhito must have made good on his suggestion of one or two practice sessions. That was unpleasant news, both because it took away a bargaining chip and because it meant Ayeka would be an even tougher opponent in future fights.
"Ayeka, I need to be the best I can be." Ryoko said calmly but firmly. "I won't give up."
"You will have to go to someone else." Ayeka's voice was equally unyielding.
"You are the best available." Ryoko returned.
"How do you know I wouldn't deliberately teach you badly?" Ayeka asked.
"That's simple enough. Katsuhito would never teach sloppy swordsmanship. Sasami would never teach poor cooking." Ryoko pointed out. "And you are their sister."
Ayeka sighed. "Of all the times for you to start using your brains."
"I guess I'm not a bakemono (idiot monster) after all, eh?" Ryoko grinned.
"Bakemono or not," Ayeka said, "my answer is still no." She went into her room and closed the door without a backward look.
Ryoko rubbed her chin in thought. The first encounter had gone about as expected. But she had spoken the truth when she had said she needed to do this. Both for herself -- and Tenchi. Time to bring in the heavy artillery.
------
Washu found Ayeka just outside the house, sipping a cup of tea and watching the ripples on the lake. "Good afternoon, Princess Ayeka," she said, sitting down gently.
"Good afternoon, Lady Washu." Ayeka replied with a knowing smile, "You want something from me, I take it."
"Ah, yes, actually." Washu decided to abandon the subtle approach. "I want you to teach Ryoko."
"I'm afraid that is impossible." Ayeka's tone was polite but definite.
"I don't see why it should be." Washu said. "If you're worried about giving up an advantage with Tenchi, I think you're actually better off if you agree."
"How is that?" Ayeka couldn't help asking.
"First of all, Tenchi wouldn't make his choice based on that. He's not like his father."
"Not yet, perhaps," Ayeka demurred, "but I think his interest will pick up considerably in a few years. I knew his grandfather at that age."
"Be that as it may, Tenchi would be more impressed now by your generosity if you agreed." said Washu. "Assuming, of course, that he hasn't made his choice already."
"Already?" Ayeka almost squeaked in surprise. "But . . . wouldn't he have said something about it?"
"I think he's waiting for people to grow up," Washu replied.
"Sasami . . . he's going to marry Sasami." Ayeka lowered her head. "I really should have known."
"Now, now, Ayeka -- I said 'people', remember?" Washu pointed out. "One of them is Tenchi himself. I don't think he's fully ready yet for the idea of relationships outside his species."
"Oh." Ayeka's expression looked only a little less worried. "In any case, this is not something I should be talking about."
"The taboo about talking to outsiders? You don't need to worry about discussing this with me," Washu reassured the princess. "I am still a member of the Academy. I've just been on a five-thousand-year involuntary sabbatical."
Ayeka had to laugh at that. "I suppose I'm in no position to criticize, since I myself took a seven-hundred-year nap. But," her gaze became inquisitive, "why are you arguing on behalf of Ryoko? It's more like you to argue with her."
"Because this time I completely agree with what she's trying to do." Washu's expression turned serious. "I meant for Ryoko to become the greatest warrior in the galaxy. But I never meant for her to be that and nothing more. I want her to become a whole person, and that means developing her other abilities. Like the one you developed." The pint-sized genius reached into a hole that suddenly opened in the air next to her, and brought out what looked like a scroll tied with green ribbon. "Let me show you something else Lady Funaho helped me get a copy of."
Ayeka's eyes widened as she recognized it. "My yearbook!"
Washu removed the ribbon and unrolled the cylinder. Now it was clear that it was not made of paper, but something that stiffened as it became flat. Washu moved her fingers across the side, and images began to appear on the surface. There were pictures of a large building in the Juraian style, assemblies in an outdoor amphitheater, and then Washu found the one she wanted. The picture showed a slightly younger version of Ayeka joyfully holding a large trophy, and being carried on the shoulders of a group of cheering classmates. It could have been a typical school victory celebration on Earth -- except for the rather suggestive shape of the trophy.
"I admit that I would have guessed you more for weaving or playing an instrument." Washu said quietly. " Why did you choose that particular extracurricular activity?"
Ayeka seemed to be looking far away for a moment. "Brother Yosho was to Jurai what a rock star is on this world. Handsome, the finest swordsman on the planet, and of course the Crown Prince. He would have been Jurai's most eligible bachelor if he hadn't been betrothed to me from my early childhood. As I grew older, I started to realize how much jealousy there was towards me. Many people whispered, and finally a few said openly, that I didn't deserve him. This was a way I could show them wrong. And," Ayeka blushed a little, "when Sasami started to get so good at cooking, I wanted something she couldn't yet compete in."
"But you never got the chance to show your brother what you'd achieved." Washu's voice was sympathetic.
"No." Ayeka shook her head.
"Well, here is a chance to use it. Ayeka, you know that it was Kagato, and not Ryoko, who was responsible for what happened on Jurai. He twisted Ryoko into a machine of killing and destruction. Don't you want to repair some of the harm that he did?"
"You make a powerful argument there." Ayeka answered slowly. "But it's not that easy. I know that our reluctance to talk to those from other planets seems like a primitive taboo to you, Lady Washu, but it is a strong rule nonetheless. There are consequences for breaking it. Especially in my case. And there is someone who will enforce those consequences."
"No one has to find out, Ayeka." Washu said.
"It is virtually impossible to keep the Devil Princess of Jurai from finding out something she has taken an interest in." Ayeka's voice had the tone of a chess player declaring checkmate. "I imagine your sensors detected Mikagami's presence last week?"
"Yes." Washu admitted. "I wondered about that. Well, sorry for having taken up your time." The red-haired scientist got up. "By the way, I didn't know they had sailor fuku (uniforms) on Jurai as well."
Ayeka nodded. "I have a sneaking suspicion that brother Yosho introduced the style behind the scenes when he thought the time was right."
Washu walked into the house, and was about to enter the closet door under the stairs when there was a displacement of air, and Ryoko appeared beside her. "Well?" the cyan-haired woman demanded.
"Ayeka said no," Washu began, and then broke into a grin, "but she inadvertently told me how to get a yes."
"Yatta! (Yay!)" Ryoko exclaimed, turning a somersault in the air. "Thanks, mom. You're the best."
"Aww, you called me 'mom'!" Washu put an enormous smile on her face, her eyes seeming to expand to the size of Sasami's.
"Uh, yeah." The ex-space-pirate said sheepishly. "Just don't get too used to it, okay?"
Back on the veranda, Ayeka was still thinking over what Washu had said. "Waiting for people to grow up," she repeated softly to herself. But which people? Into her mind came the memory of the desperate battle on board the Souja, and Tenchi's reply to Kagato's taunt. "I would rather die than forsake any of those women." Could he have meant . . . ? Ayeka's face looked flabbergasted. Ryoko AND Mihoshi as sister-wives? She thought. Ohboy . . .
------
Three days later, Ayeka walked down the path to where her two guardians stood. "Good afternoon, Azaka, Kamidake. Are you enjoying the sunny weather?"
"Good afternoon, Princess." Azaka replied. "The sunlight and clear sky are indeed pleasant today."
"But we anticipate a period of uncomfortable heat arriving soon." Kamidake weighed in. "By the way, an unusual envelope arrived in today's mail." The wooden guardian rotated, and opened a slot revealing the letters that had been delivered that day.
Ayeka reached inside and gathered the mail. It was easy to see which envelope Kamidake had mentioned. It was larger than usual, colored golden brown, and hand-addressed in bold writing. The violet-haired princess' eyes widened as she saw that it was addressed directly to her. She opened it gingerly, a feeling of unease creeping over her. The message inside read simply:
Dear Ayeka Sweetie,
Train Ryoko -- or else!
Affectionately Yours,
Grandma Seto
For a few moments, Ayeka stood immobilized, except that her fingers slowly crumpled the expensive-looking stationery as her grip tightened. Then she turned and made for the house at high speed, trailing a stream of curses.
"The Princess has certainly expanded her vocabulary since she came to this planet." Azaka remarked.
Inside her lab, Washu straightened on her floating cushion and turned to look behind her. "Three . . .two. . .one. . ." She counted off. The door to the Masaki house appeared right on her cue, and an enraged Ayeka came through it.
"All right, Lady Washu!" The princess stormed. "What deal did you make with my Grandmother?"
"Deal?" Washu tried to keep her voice innocent. "What kind of deal are you talking about, Ayeka?"
"The kind where you give Grandma Seto something so that she orders me to teach Ryoko," Ayeka grated, "as you know perfectly well."
"Now what makes you think that's what happened?" Washu temporized.
"I know you," Ayeka locked her gaze on Washu, "and I know her. Out with it."
"Ah. Now that you mention it, I may have promised to build Lady Seto a battleship." Washu started tapping her index fingers together. "Should she ever happen to need one."
Ayeka turned this over in her mind. There was nothing that she could offer her Grandmother that would outweigh a battleship from the greatest scientific genius in the known universe. And given the potential benefit to Jurai's forces, it might even be her patriotic duty. She gave a sigh of resignation. There were days when being a Juraian Princess was more trouble than it was worth. "Very well, Lady Washu. I will need to know some of the details of Ryoko's sensory perception."
"Her . . . senses?" Washu blinked.
"Yes." Ayeka nodded. "Here on Earth, people tend to concentrate on sight, but Juraian techniques are meant to stimulate all the senses in turn. I know that Ryoko has a very limited sense of taste. How is her hearing and sense of smell?"
"I see your point!" Washu looked excited. She swiveled on her cushion, and began tapping her holo-keyboard. "Okay . . . here are the frequency ranges . . . and these are the parts per billion in standard atmospheres . . ."
"Umm, Lady Washu?" Ayeka interrupted. "It would be . . . helpful . . . to have that in terms of how low the background music can be and how many scented candles would be needed."
"Non-scientists." Washu muttered. "Oh, speaking of that, Ayeka, I know this is going to feel a bit uncomfortable--"
"The word 'uncomfortable' doesn't BEGIN to describe it." Ayeka returned.
"Whatever." Washu waved away the objection. "This is a unique opportunity. 'Sexual Responses in a Hominid-Mass-Robot Fusion'. It'll be the research paper of the century! And you should have credit as a co-researcher."
"Please, Lady Washu, keep my name out of it." Ayeka implored. "This is definitely not what I want to be known for."
------
( Many years later . . . )
There is a noticeable change in the atmosphere of a police station when the staff realizes they have a tiger by the tail. Some head for the nearest door, making excuses about duties elsewhere. Others gather at a safe observing distance, watching for careers to go down in flames. And always there is a scramble to pass the buck upwards as far as possible. This station was at the far edge of galactic civilization, but matters proceeded no differently.
"So what is a Queen of Jurai doing in this backwater, anyway?" asked the lieutenant who happened to be the senior person on duty.
"Beats me," replied the first of the two patrolmen, "some kind of secret diplomacy, perhaps. Emperor Tenchi's Queens are known for unconventional behavior."
"That's like saying black holes are known to be unsafe to be near," piped up a desk clerk who had secured a nearby spot.
"All right, let's just hear what happened," said the lieutenant, looking warily at the cloaked and hooded figure, and the bearded man in the scarlet jacket.
"Apparently, her majesty," the patrolman waved towards the cloaked figure next to him, "had a rendezvous with someone inside Baltram's tavern. While she was there unannounced, a group of merchant crew on shore leave started singing 'Ayeka of Jurai'."
"You mean the one that goes 'It may be disloyal / to one who is royal / but raise your glasses on high --" the desk clerk put in.
"That will be enough of that." Came a growl from under the hood of the cloaked figure.
"But it's one of the classic drinking songs." Protested the desk clerk.
"It is a wretched piece of drivel." Returned the cloaked figure. "And so, I politely but firmly requested them to cease. The leader of the group said 'make me'. I accepted his invitation."
"And that's when the fight broke out, I assume." The lieutenant rubbed his eyes wearily. "Very well. What's the damage?"
"She burned my place to the ground, officer!" burst out the man in the scarlet jacket.
"Beltram's is GONE?" came a chorus of dismayed voices from around the station.
"It wasn't MY shot that exploded that keg," the figure retorted, "and isn't Ashurian rum prohibited in this district?"
The tavern owner gave a guilty start. The lieutenant noticed that several of the station personnel did likewise.
"Ashurian rum?" Beltram's voice went up an octave. "Nonsense! Where did you get that idea?"
"I know a thing or two about liquor." said the cloaked figure. "Since everyone got out in time, and since somehow none of the other participants in the altercation have been brought in, I suggest that the Royal Family pay for the tavern and the matter be closed."
"That seems like it would save a good deal of trouble to a lot of people." The lieutenant gave Beltram a meaningful look.
"Uh, yes," Beltram was looking much happier at the mention of repayment.
"So, what exactly makes 'Ayeka of Jurai' so bad?" the desk clerk inquired. The lieutenant gave him a scorching look, but the clerk's job was evidently protected by a strong union.
"That confounded line, 'With lust she inflamed / the pirate she tamed'!" The figure threw off the hood, revealing long cyan-colored hair coiffed in the complex Juraian style. She leaned towards the desk clerk, and a pair of golden eyes burned into his own. "Do I look 'tamed' to you?"
"Uh, why, no," stammered the clerk, an extra-large sweatdrop suddenly appearing.
"And how is it Ayeka becomes famous, and I'm just 'the pirate'?" Ryoko demanded of no one in particular. "WHAT IN HELL DOES A LADY HAVE TO DO TO HAVE HER NAME REMEMBERED?"
T h e E n d
Author's notes: 1) The classic "sailor fuku", worn by most middle school and high school girls in Japan, was actually introduced as a school uniform in 1921 by the principal of Fukuoka Jo Gakuin University, Elizabeth Lee. It was modeled after the uniform used by the British Royal Navy at the time. My respects to the late Ms. Lee for my slight corruption of history.
2) In the OVA episode "Here Comes Jurai", Washu promises Queen Funaho the she will not help anyone build more versions of Ryo-Ohki. But in the course of "Tenchi Muyo GXP", she provides Seina with the battleship Kamidake II, powered by Fuku, who is almost a sister version of Ryo-Ohki. Washu's "deal" with Princess Seto is my humble way of explaining the discrepancy.
